EXECUTIVE PROFILES

SECRETARY & CEO

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Missy Hughes is the secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the state’s lead economic development organization. She was appointed to the post by Governor Evers in September 2019. Prior to joining WEDC, she was chief counsel and chief mission officer for Organic Valley, a Wisconsin-based, nationwide cooperative of organic dairy farmers.

In her role at WEDC, Secretary Hughes oversees efforts to attract businesses to Wisconsin and help existing businesses expand, meet current and future workforce needs, promote global trade and investment, support thriving communities and small businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, address the unique needs of rural residents, and advance the economic well-being of every resident.

Speaking topics:

Economic development
Rural economic development
Forward-looking economic development strategies
WEDC overview

Missy Hughes
Secretary and CEO

Missy Hughes is the secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the state’s lead economic development organization. She …. Read More

SAM RIKKERS

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Sam Rikkers is deputy secretary and chief operating officer for WEDC. Prior to joining WEDC in November 2019, he served as strategic economic initiatives director at the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Sam has an extensive background in rural development, both in the U.S. and internationally. He served in the White House from 2013 to 2014 as director on the energy and environment team in the Presidential Personnel Office, then was administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Before returning to Wisconsin in 2017, he launched and led the Rural Opportunity Initiative of the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.

In Wisconsin, he served as executive director of Tiny Earth, a global initiative based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, harnessing the research of undergraduate students to discover new antibiotics.

A native of Stoughton, Rikkers holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Macalester College. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia.

Speaking topics:

Rural and urban economic development
Business attraction
Business retention and expansion
WEDC programs and operations
Sustainability and resiliency

Sam Rikkers
Chief Operating Officer

Sam Rikkers is deputy secretary and chief operating officer for WEDC. Prior to joining WEDC in November 2019… Read More

SHELLY BRAUN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CREDIT & RISK

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Shelly Braun is the Senior Vice President of Credit & Risk within WEDC.

Shelly has more than two decades of experience in banking, finance and credit. Prior to joining WEDC in 2015 she worked 15 years with a community bank in Northeastern Wisconsin. A life-long Wisconsin resident Shelly embraces this opportunity to serve the state she has always called home.

Shelly Braun
Senior Vice President, Credit and Risk

Shelly Braun is the Senior Vice President of Credit & Risk within WEDC… Read More

SCOTT CHAMPION

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Scott Champion is senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy for WEDC. He joined WEDC in March 2021.

Scott is a business-to-business marketing leader, communications professional, creative director and writer who has built two successful agencies, led communications for a billion-dollar CPG business, and directed the national marketing infrastructure of a $1.1 billion accounting, tax and advisory firm.

Scott’s skills include marketing strategy, marketing program management, writing and editing, creative direction, internal and external communications strategy, customer and client service, project and operations management, and personnel management and development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Scott Champion
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy

Scott Champion is senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy for WEDC. He joined WEDC in March 2021.Read More

AARON HAGAR

VICE PRESIDENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION AND SECTOR STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Aaron Hagar is vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation for WEDC.

Aaron previously served as WEDC’s senior technology investment manager, where he gained valuable experience helping technology-based Wisconsin companies achieve their growth potential. In more than four years with the agency, he has built strong relationships within the state’s entrepreneurial community, which will allow him to quickly advance ongoing efforts to support Wisconsin’s startups and innovation-based businesses.

Prior to joining the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, WEDC’s predecessor agency, in 2010, Aaron served as an economic development consultant in Minneapolis, where he worked with a coalition of government, business and community groups to develop policy recommendations to support community revitalization goals.

Aaron holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, with a focus on economic and workforce development, from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. He also holds a bachelor of science degree in medical microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Speaking Topics:

Government and community networks’ roles in supporting the startup community
WEDC entrepreneurship and innovation strategy
Wisconsin investor tax credit program (QNBV)
WEDC program: Capital Catalyst, Seed Accelerator and Technology Development Loans
R&D to commercialization; analysis and summary of Wisconsin activities
Raising financing and requirements at the different stages of company development

Aaron Hagar
Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Sector Strategy Development

Aaron Hagar is vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation and sector strategy development for WEDC. Aaron previously served… Read More

BETH HASKOVEC

DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF RURAL PROSPERITY

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Beth Haskovec is the Director for the Office of Rural Prosperity within WEDC.

Beth comes to us from LISC, one of the nation’s largest CDFIs, where she oversaw strategies and programs related to access to capital for small businesses across Rural America, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She brings a wealth of expertise to the team in commercial real estate development, commercial corridor development, small business capital, entrepreneurship and initiatives at the intersection of arts and culture and economic development.

Beth Haskovec
Director, Office of Rural Prosperity

HAYLEY HELLENBRAND

VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Hayley Hellenbrand is vice president of Human Resources for WEDC.

Hayley has over twenty-five years of experience in human resources, fostering a productive, engaged, and diverse workforce that drives organizational growth and innovation. She seeks to identify HR strategies that align with organizational goals through partnership with employees and organizations, finding human-centered solutions in the process.

Prior to joining WEDC in April 2021, she was the head of human resources for a local commercial lines insurance and surety provider, where she was responsible for the human resources, facilities management, and administration services of their offices throughout the United States.

Hayley earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with human resources and general management emphases, from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, and is a certified human resources professional with both the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). Raised in the great state of Wisconsin, Hayley has a great love of her Brewers and Packers, and for Wisconsin Badger Football and Hockey.

Hayley Hellenbrand
Vice President of Human Resources

Hayley has over twenty-five years of experience in human resources, fostering a productive, engaged, and diverse workforce that drives organizational growth and innovation. Read More

KHADIJA MIMS

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Khadija Mims is chief financial officer for WEDC. In her role, she oversees finance and credit and risk divisions.

Khadija has almost two decades of experience in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, and government grants compliance, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Prior to joining WEDC in March 2021, she was the controller at Breaking Ground in New York City, where she oversaw all nonprofit financial activities and government contracts. Her previous positions include client manager (CFO) at BTQ Financial. In this role, she provided outsourced CFO services for various nonprofit organizations in New York City. Before moving to the U.S., she was the finance manager for Dubai Women Establishment, a government agency in the United Arab Emirates.

Khadija earned her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and her bachelor’s degree in business, accounting from Edgewood College.

Khadija Mims
Chief Financial Officer

Khadija Mims is chief financial officer for WEDC. In her role, she oversees finance and credit and risk divisions. Khadija has almost two decades of experience… Read More

JOSHUA ROBBINS

VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Joshua Robbins is vice president of technology and information systems for WEDC. He joined WEDC in December 2011, and joined the executive staff in September 2015.

In his prior role as IT systems analyst, he was responsible for testing, building, maintaining and implementing WEDC’s IT systems. He also handled asset management efforts and research and development on new product lines; utilized project management skills to implement new software and systems; wrote documentation; was responsible for internal monitoring of all WEDC IT systems; and planned and developed IT security strategies for user security during international travel.

Joshua holds an associate’s degree in computer networking systems and a bachelor’s degree in information systems and cybersecurity, both from ITT Technical Institute in Madison.

Speaking Topics:

Implementation of SaaS systems, risks vs. rewards
International travel security compliance: the balance between productivity and security
Customer service as an IT professional
BYOD implementation
Navigating the hardware landscape: picking the right endpoint machines for your organization

Joshua Robbins
Senior Vice President, Business Information & Technology Services

Joshua Robbins is vice president of technology and information systems for WEDC. He joined WEDC in December 2011, and joined the executive staff… Read More

KATY SINNOTT

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Katy Sinnott is Vice President of Global Trade and Investment with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow Wisconsin’s economy in three key areas: helping Wisconsin companies expand and accelerate their exports, expanding and growing key driver industries by working with key stakeholders in the state, and through attracting both foreign and national investment into Wisconsin.

Katy has more two decades of business management and financial services experience, working in more than 40 countries with an emphasis on China. Before joining WEDC, she was the CEO and a board director for ERIC Paris Salons, a chain of salons based in China. Under her leadership as CEO, the company expanded from three salons to 38 in three years. At its peak, the company had revenues of $6 million and 450 employees.

Prior to that, Katy was a consultant in Hong Kong for McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. In this role, she oversaw the merger of two global television tube manufacturers spread across multiple continents and helped design a customer loyalty program for China’s second-largest oil company. Katy also held several positions in Hong Kong with HSBC Ltd., one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. She is experienced in redesigning bank business processes and ensuring information services are business-driven.

A Wisconsin native, Katy holds a BS in finance from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After college, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Chinese University of Hong Kong through Yale University, where she completed a nine-month intensive studies course in Mandarin. She is conversant in Chinese and French.

Speaking Topics:

Global trade
Foreign direct investment
Doing business in China
International business development
Country-specific export trends and opportunities
Cross-cultural communication
Barriers/opportunities facing companies that export
Free trade agreements
Wisconsin export data and trends
Eximbank

Katy Sinnott
Vice President, Global Trade and Investment

Katy Sinnott is Vice President of Global Trade and Investment with WEDC. In this role, she is responsible for … Read More

MIKE WARD

VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Mike Ward joined WEDC in September 2022 as vice president for business and community development. To his work at WEDC, he brings more than 25 years of experience in banking with U.S. Bank and its predecessors. Mike has held leadership positions in sales management, commercial lending, marketing, sales support and underwriting—all focused on small business. Helping and learning about small businesses and the communities they support has been Mike’s passion for his entire career.

Mike has done volunteer work with a number of groups including various United Ways, the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, the Waukesha Redevelopment Authority and the Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation. He is a current board member of BizStarts and the Urban Economic Development Association as well as an active volunteer with Kiva. He also serves as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Wisconsin Economic Roundtable.

A Madison native, Mike received his bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. He lives with his wife in Waukesha and has three adult children.

Mike Ward
Vice President, Business and Community Development

Mike Ward is the vice president of Business and Community Development for WEDC. Mike brings more than 25 years of experience in banking… Read More

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